News - ESIP

PRESS RELEASE: Healthcare payers welcome the Council conclusions on
strengthening the balance in the pharmaceutical system in the EU
17 June 2016
Social security organisations, mutuals and health insurance funds, members of ESIP and
AIM warmly welcome the commitment of the Council towards a more balanced
pharmaceutical system in the EU.
« The Council has formalised concrete first steps to addressing the current problems
threatening patients access to essential pharmaceuticals and the sustainability of
healthcare systems caused by rocketing prices of some pharmaceuticals », says Franz
Terwey, President of ESIP.
These Council conclusions are in line with the joint ESIP and AIM position on access to
innovative medicines. Particularly, they recognize the importance of voluntary cooperation
between Member States on Health Technology Assessment, exchanges of information with
and between pricing and reimbursement bodies and stakeholders, and joint negotiations
and procurement.
As outlined in the conclusions, the focus on assessing the relevance of the EU framework
in encouraging real innovation in accordance with patients’ needs is also critical to achieve
the double goal of ensuring equal access to medicines delivering patient relevant benefits
and the sustainability of healthcare systems.
“Exploring the existing options for early access of a drug to the market, defining what are
unmet medical needs and clarifying the qualifying criteria for early market access for the
benefit of the patients should be the first steps before considering alternative approaches
such as adaptive pathways” stresses Menno Aarnout, Executive Director of AIM.
Prevention of anti-competitive behaviour and the timely availability of generics and
biosimilars should also continue to be an important priority of the Commission.
ESIP and AIM are fully committed to contribute to the work of both the Commission and the
Council to reach the goals formulated in the conclusions adopted today by the Council in
order to promote a balanced and sustainable pharmaceutical system in the EU, where
equal access to medicines is ensured for all.
About the European Social Insurance Platform (ESIP)
The European Social Insurance Platform (ESIP) represents over 40 national statutory social
insurance organisations (covering approximately 240 million citizens) in 15 EU Member States and
Switzerland, active in the field of health insurance, pensions, occupational disease and accident
insurance, disability and rehabilitation, family benefits and unemployment insurance. The aims of
ESIP and its members are to preserve high profile social security for Europe, to reinforce solidaritybased social insurance systems and to maintain European social protection quality. ESIP builds
strategic alliances for developing common positions to influence the European debate and is a
consultation forum for the European institutions and other multinational bodies active in the field of
social security.
ESIP, rue d’Arlon 50, B – 1000 Brussels
Tel: +32 2 282 05 62; Fax: +32 2 282 05 98
Web: www.esip.eu
Contact: [email protected]
About AIM
The Association Internationale de la Mutualité (AIM) is an international umbrella organisation of notfor-profit healthcare mutuals and health insurance funds in Europe and in the world which operate on
the basis of solidarity. Currently, AIM’s membership consists of 62 member organisation in 32
countries. In Europe alone they provide coverage of healthcare to around 200 million people. AIM
strives via its network to make an active contribution to the preservation and improvement of access
to health care for everyone. Web: www.aim-mutual.org

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